David Wolfe

CPA, CVA®

Chief Financial Officer and Business Strategist

David advises and provides tax planning advice to clients on complex and sophisticated tax-related issues.  He also helps clients who own or manage a business navigate complicated tax and business-related issues including valuation analysis.  David applies his business knowledge to the firm and is responsible for establishing policies and procedures for effective recording, analyzing, and reporting of financial matters for Acumen Wealth Advisors and its clients.

David earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration–Marketing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  He was awarded a full scholarship and graduated with honors while working in the real estate industry during his university tenure. David is a certified public accountant (CPA), holds the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA®) designation, and the FINRA Series 65 (Uniform Investment Advisor Law Exam) license. He worked in public accounting across multiple industries serving as a tax, consulting, and valuation specialist.  He has advised business owners to make strategic growth decisions, financial models, and navigate mergers and acquisitions. While serving as a valuation expert, David worked with businesses and attorneys across the country in buy/sell transactions, wrongful termination or death cases, marital dissolutions, and more.  Before his career in public accounting David was a financial consultant for TVA within the financial operations organization.  Previously, he spent several years as an advertising sales executive.

David is active in the local community as a financial leader advising on economic decisions and providing oversight to non-profits. David is proudly serving on the board of directors for local charitable organizations including Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, Signal Mountain Parks and Recreation, and ArtPart. David also volunteers with The Company Lab (CO.LAB) providing accounting and financial guidance to startup businesses across an array of industries.  Previously he served as treasurer of Downside Up, Inc. for four years.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself;
it is thinking of yourself less.”

C.S. Lewis

A certified public accountant (CPA) in today’s environment must not only have a high level of technical competence and a sense of commitment to service, but must also have good communications and analytical skills, and the ability to work well with people. Employers are looking for individuals who have the ability to analyze and evaluate complex business problems and the interpersonal skills and maturity to make decisions in a client- and customer-service environment.  To obtain the required body of knowledge and to develop the skills and abilities needed to be successful CPAs, students should complete 150 semester hours of education. Many states/jurisdictions now require or will require 150 semester hours of education for obtaining the CPA license. Colleges and universities in these states/jurisdictions determine the curriculum for pre-licensure education of CPAs; it typically features a good balance of accounting, business, and general education.

NACVA’s globally recognized Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA®) designation is the most widely recognized business valuation credential and the only business valuation credential accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies® (NCCA®) and the American National Standards Institute® (ANSI®).  Qualifications for CVA Certification for CPAs: Hold an active, valid, and unrevoked CPA license issued by a legally constituted state authority.  CVA®’s can confidently advise their clients if they come faced with these issues.

  • An opportunity arises to sell or merge the business
  • They are faced with transitioning the business to family members or other partners
  • They are looking to expand the business and need to secure capital
  • They are taking on new partners and need to determine buy-in price
  • They are reaching retirement and considering an exit strategy
  • Business partners or shareholders are exiting, requiring the business to be divided or dissolved
  • They are embroiled in financial litigation
  • They want to focus energies to grow company value